Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

“But, we work with that man!  He is our neighbor!  He is our cousin!”:  some may say.  There can be all kinds of excuses to not remove a specific man from the church or even discipline him at all. 

But, today’s Scripture is clear both in its command and in its explanation of the reason for this strict discipline.

In yesterday’s devotion, we focused on the grace of discipline both the church and to the disciplined individual (“… so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus”  1 Corinthians 5:5.).  Today, Scripture does not present such grace for some of the disciplined individuals.  In such severe cases, the grace is only for the church.  Certain wicked men simply need to removed from the church regardless of whether or not they are eventually saved.  In such severe cases, the church cannot prioritize its desire to restore the individual over the need to protect the church.

Obviously, such severe cases call for great wisdom in its elders.  Obviously, there is no Scripture to make it easy for us which contains the specific name of the wicked man and specifically commands by specific name that the specific man be removed.

But, there is hope!        

Even in today’s Scripture, we read:  “For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”  Christ has provided us with “the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth”.  1 Corinthians 5:7-8. 

We also find hope elsewhere in Scripture.

God gives elders to the church who are “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.  For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.”  Titus 1:9-11.

For these elders and for the rest of us believers who need wisdom to make tough decisions as to whether or not remove a specific individual from church, Christ is “our wisdom from God”.  1 Corinthians 1:30.  And, the Holy Spirit is our Helper to guide us into all truth including the truth necessary to make these difficult decisions.  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  John 16:13

“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;  and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men;  for not all have faith.  But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”  2 Thessalonians 3:1-3.

Without discipline, the whole Church would suffer.  Sin is like cancer affecting the whole body.  Sin is like leaven which affects the whole lump.  “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.  I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view;  but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.”  Galatians 5:9-10.

Therefore, Paul repeats the command of God through the ages.  “… REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.”  1 Corinthians 5:13.  

As one example, let us not forget the lesson of Achan.  Achan was just one man, but his sin affected all of Israel.  “But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel.”  Joshua 7:1. 

God punished Israel causing Israel to be defeated at the battle at Ai.  When Joshua, Israel’s leader questioned God as to why He allowed this to occur.  The LORD said to Joshua:  “Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed.  I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.”  Joshua 7:12.

Joshua found out what Achan had done and confronted Achan.  “Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us?  The LORD will trouble you this day.”  And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.  They raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger.  Therefore the name of that place has been called the valley of Achor to this day.”  Joshua 7:25-27. 

Now, this Scripture (and other Scripture as well) certainly does not teach us that we should stone or kill the guilty party as part of church discipline.   But, it teaches us two things.  First, it teaches us that sin affects the whole Church.  Second, it teaches that the Church needs to appropriately discipline.

Examples of church discipline include, but are not limited to:  private reprimand, public reprimand in front of the church, not allowing the guilty party to participate in communion, and excommunication or removal from the church.  The elders of the church have the authority to discipline and must do so carefully and prayerfully according to Scripture and the rules of the particular church.     

Discipline is one of the marks of the true church.  Here is what The Belgic Confession states in part.

Article 29:  Of the marks of the true Church, and wherein she differs from the false Church.

“…  The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these: if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein;  if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ;  if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin:  in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. Hereby the true Church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself.  …” 

In conclusion, let us not only view discipline as a duty.  Let us view discipline as a grace of God.  First, it is a grace to the whole church to wash the church and keep it pure.  But, second, it is also a grace to the individual guilty party.  We read in today’s Scripture of the discipline that was a grace to the individual guilty party “… so that his spirit may be saved inthe day of the Lord Jesus.”  1 Corinthians 5:5.     

“… MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,
NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 
FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”  Hebrews 12:5-6.

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;  yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Hebrews 12:11.

When we read about the sufferings in these two passages, and when we consider other sufferings by ourselves and others, it is easy to shrink back.  We know we should endure and persevere, but who has the strength to so endure and persevere through all the suffering?!

But, there is hope!

Our hope is in “Perseverance of the Saints a/k/a Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  God causes us to persevere.  God preserves us.

Here is part of what The Canons of Dordt states:

Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.

Here is the entire part of this doctrine on “Perseverance of the Saints a/k/a Preservation of the Saints”: 

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:2-3. 

Psalm 84:11
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory;  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Romans 8:32
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

James 1:17
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.

In conclusion, it is a blessing to read these Scriptures again.  Generally, they help to build our faith.  Specifically, in the context of today’s Scripture, they provide the cure for arrogance.  When we more fully understand, acknowledge, and act in accordance with this truth that we have received everything, then we recede from arrogance and dwell in humility and gratitude.

¹⁸ Let no man deceive himself.  If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.

¹⁹  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.  For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”;

²⁰  and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”

²¹  So then let no one boast in men.  For all things belong to you,

²²  whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come;  all things belong to you,

²³  and you belong to Christ;  and Christ belongs to God.”  1 Corinthians 3:16-23. 

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Today, we will focus on the statement:  “all things belong to you”.

First, there is the comfort of its inclusion in Scripture.  It is the truth, and we can rely on it.  But, there is more.

Second, there is the comfort that this statement is repeated in verses 21 and 22.  We can rely on the truth of a statement made only once in Scripture.  But, when a statement is repeated, that repetition is made for the purpose of emphasizing it, and we should accordingly pay greater attention to it and rely on it more.

Third, there is the comfort of the logic.  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.  Likewise, because we belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God, all things belong to us.

Fourth, we know that God loves us.  If God so loves us, “how will He not also … freely give us all things?”  “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38-39. 

Fifth, we know that God considers His children.  If God considers us His children, “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  “Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:7-11.  

The Heidelberg Catechism must have considered the importance of “all things belong to you” in considering  this truth in its very first Question and Answer.

Question 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

How then should we live our lives?

Joyfully and confidently like children!  Children may not see all things belong to them, but they show that they believe it.  They know somehow that food, clothes, and shelter are provided to them.  They know they have a father who will provide all good things to them.  They don’t feel the need to carry a wallet or purse.  They don’t worry.  They are not anxious.  They play joyfully and confidently which shows that like the righteous, they live by faith.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?   Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?  And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?  And why are you worried about clothing?  Observe how the lilies of the field grow;  they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?  You of little faith!  Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:25-33.   

Luke 12:32
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

“10  According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it.  But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

11  For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12  Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13  each man’s work will become evident;  for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.

14  If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss;  but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”  1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

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“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”  1 Peter 1:6-7.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6.

“For by it the men of old gained approval.”  Hebrews 11:2.

We tend to think that if we were free from trials and tribulations, then we could do great work for our LORD.  Moreover, we tend to think that if we had more clear sight, then we could do great work for our LORD.

But, Hebrews Chapter 11 and other Scriptures make it clear that the Hall of Fame belongs to those Christians who had faith and acted upon their faith.  They had trials and tribulations, but they had faith and acted upon it.  They lacked sight, but they had faith and acted upon it.  Their works (based on their faith) endured, even though tested by fire, and their works are praised to this day.

“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain …”  Hebrews 11:4.

“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death …”  Hebrews 11:5.

“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household …”  Hebrews 11:7.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”  Hebrews 11:8.

“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”  Hebrews 11:11.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;”  Hebrews 11:17.

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.”  Hebrews 11:20.

“By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”  Hebrews 11:21.

“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.”  Hebrews 11:22.

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”  Hebrews 11:23.

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt;  for he was looking to the reward.”  Hebrews 11:24-26.

And, the list goes on … ”  And all these, … gained approval through their faith, …”  Hebrews 11:39.

The Scripture for today makes it clear that the subject of this faith must be our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is the foundation, and all of our works that endure must be built upon Christ.

So, we look to Christ and have faith and act upon that faith in Christ.  By faith in Christ, we do those works which God prepared for us to do.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

What then is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one;  but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God’s fellow workers;  you are God’s field, God’s building.”  1 Corinthians 3:1-9. 

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“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11.  

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”  Ephesians 4:11-12.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

Matthew 16:18
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;  and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:19-22.

“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

¹⁰  For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

¹¹  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

¹²  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

¹³  which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”  1 Corinthians 2:6-13.

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Some gifts of God are “earthly” that we can see and more easily understand and appreciate.  “And wine which makes man’s heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains man’s heart.”  Psalm 104:15

But, other gifts are spiritual gifts that we cannot see, and we have more difficulty understanding and appreciating them.  In the very last chapter, we read about some of these specific spiritual gifts.  “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”  1 Corinthians 1:30.  More generally, we have received every spiritual blessing.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”  Ephesians 1:3.

Who, by themselves, fully understands and appreciates those spiritual blessings?! 

And, there is more need for our precious Holy Spirit to reveal to us and help us understand and appreciate spiritual gifts than just caused by the fact that that we cannot see them.  So to speak, some of these spiritual gifts are either wrapped in plain brown paper or are wrapped in things that at first repel us.  For example, consider the following two examples. 

Hebrews 12:11
“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;  yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4. 

There are many experiences that we have that were repelling at first thought, but later, sometimes much later, we realized the spiritual blessing hidden in those experiences. 

But, there is hope!  We have the Holy Spirit to help us be aware, understand, and appreciate those spiritual blessings. 

In conclusion, let us not only think of gifts from God in terms of quantity, quality, and variety (even though that thought alone is awesome).  Let us also think of gifts from God as being accompanied by the Spirit of the Giver.  Let us not only seek God’s presents;  let us also seek God’s presence.